Package wrapping machine



June 9, 1942. J. SILBERMAN 2,285,842

' PACKAGE WRAPfING MACHINE Filed Oct. 23, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 r": KR

Jxvcoa 5/4 EE/P/WA/V.

, INVENTOR.

M ATTORNEYS.

June 9, 1942. J. SILBERMAN PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Oct. 23 1940 3Sheets-Sheet 2 MR 0 b N N MW 2 2 a w w L 2 v Q Nv 2% Q KY /.b t A fi k RQ. ww Q w RN June 9, 1942.

J. SILBERMAN PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Oct. 23, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet3 dncoa 6/4 BEE/7AM INVENTOR.

AY RMYS.

Patented June 9, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PACKAGE WRAPPINGMACHINE Jacob Silberman, Lima, Ohio Application October 23, 1940, SerialNo. 362,323

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in package wrapping machines andmore specifically to a machine for wrapping cream cheese in foilwrappers.

One of the features of the invention resides in a machine for foldingthe ends of the package wrapper inwardly in lapped relation about thecheese to be wrapped by means of a series of successive foldingoperations to which the ends of the partially wrapped package aresubjected when manually inserted into and pushed through the machine.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a package wrappingmachine in which the pair of opposed end folders may be adjustedrelative to each other to facilitate the wrapping of different widthpackages.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a semi-automaticpackage wrapping machine for use by small manufacturers of cream cheese,who due to the high cost of full automatic wrapping machines, resort tohand Wrapping.

A further feature of the invention is to provide a cream cheese wrappingmachine which is simple and inexpensive of construction, easy to operateby a single operator, and which is easy to take apart for replacement ofparts and for maintaining the machine in a sanitary condition.

Other features of the invention will become apparent as the followingspecification is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the wrapping machine.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 i an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line3-3 of Figure 2 with intermediate portions omitted.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional viewillustrating packages at the respective folding stations, the ends ofthe packages being in end elevation.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a block of cream cheese with a wrapperfolded thereabout preparatory to insertion of the same into the wrappingmachine.

Figures 5 to 8 inclusive are perspective views illustrating thesuccessive folding steps imparted to a package by the package wrappingmachine.

Figure 9 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view on the line99 of Figure 2.

Figure 10 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view on the lineI0I0 of Figure 2.

Figure 11 is an enlarged Vertical transverse sectional view on the lineIlll of Figure 2.

Figure 12 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view on the lineI 2--l 2 of Figure 2, illustrating in dot and dash lines the final foldimparted to a package being wrapped.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, the numeral I0designates my package wrapping machine in its entirety which is intendedto fold the ends of a wrapper about the ends of a rectangular shapedarticle, such as a block of cream cheese, butter, or the like. In orderto appreciate the Various successive folder devices embodied in themachine I0 and their relationship, I shall first describe the successivefolding steps necessary to fold.the ends of a wrapper to closedposition, and which folds are imparted to the wrapper during the passageof the wrapper through the package wrapping machine I0. These foldingoperations are clearly illustrated in Figures 5 to 8 inclusive.

Assume that a rectangular block A of cream cheese is to be wrapped in anormally flat foil sheet wrapper B. The wrapper B is wider than thelength of the block A and of a length to entirely fold about the sidesof the block with the ends thereof disposed in overlapping relation asillustrated in Figure 5. Thi initial folding operation is performed byhand preparatory to the insertion of the partially wrapped package intothe machine H1, and by reason of the projectingends of the wrapper,there is sufficient material which when folded inwardly, is capable ofentirely closing the ends of the block A. The open extending ends of thewrapper are simultaneously closed by a serie of four folding operationsillustrated in Figures 5 to 8 inclusive, and in order to distinguish therespective portions of the wrapper to be successively folded,

"I shall refer to them as four flap arranged at each end of the wrapper,namely, a rear side flap C, an opposed front side flap D, a bottom flapE consisting of the lapped ends of the wrapper, and a top end flap F.The flaps C, D, E, and F, are successively folded inwardly at foldingstations C, D, E, and F, arranged on a flat elongated base ll of themachine Ill, and which base may be placed upon a table, or it may haveleg so as to be self supporting. The folding stations are arranged inlongitudinal alinement upon the flat elongated table or base II and thepackage to be wrapped is successively presented to the stations inthe'order above mentioned.

Folder station C comprises a pair of spaced parallel bars l2-l2 havingflat confronting side walls l3-l3 and which bars are adjustably mountedon the base H for a limited movement toward and away from each other.Bolts l4 pass upwardly through elongated transversely elongated slots l5in base If and through openings 16 in the bars l2 and the upwardlyprojecting threaded ends of the bolts receive wing clamping nuts I1. Theheads of the bolts are countersunk in recesses H3 in the underside ofthe base and engage washers H] which bridge the slots l5. The inwardlyfacing end of each bar I2 is undercut or recessed as at 20 and the face2| of the undercut is curved outwardly and upwardly. The flat verticalwall !3 meets the inner end of the bar l2 at a round corner 22, and therounded corners of the two bars are in confronting relation andconstitute the folders for infolding of the rear side flaps C at theends of the package as illustrated at the right of Figure 4. The spacedparallel bars l2-l2 also act as guide rails for a pusher bar 23 which isprovided with an upstanding hand grip 24 adjacent its outer end. A fixedstop 25 is secured to the base II in the path of rearward movement ofthe pusher bar, and when the rear end of the pusher bar is abutting thestop, the front end thereof is disposed inwardly of and adjacent therounded corner folders 22-22 as illustrated in full lines in thedrawings. After the operator prepares the wrapper B about the blank A inthe manner shown in Figure 5, the same is reversed and placed upon thebase forward of the bars l2 with the lapped portions of the wrapper facedown so as to prevent accidental unfolding thereof. The package is nowpushed rearwardly by the operator of the machine so as to enter thespace between the rounded corners of the bars [2 and abut the front endof the pusher bar 23. As the rear flaps C of the package wrapper engagethe round folder corners 22 during the sliding of the package betweenthe bars [2-12, the same will be folded inwardly against the ends of theblock of cheese A, thus completing the initial folding operation. Due tothe ductile characteristic of the foil from which the wrapper is madeand also by reason of the formation of folded triangular shaped webs Gfrom the projecting ends of the wrapper, the flaps C will remain intheir folded position during travel of the partially wrapped package tothe next folder station D. As the package is slid between the bars l2-I2the bottom flaps E and folded webs G enter the recesses or undercuts20-20. To move the package from station C to station D, the operatorgrasps the handle 24 of the pusher bar 23 and pushes forwardly thereon,whereupon the package is presented to station D to impart infolding ofthe flaps D.

The folder station D includes a pair of spaced relatively short bars28-26 having flat confront-' ing vertical side walls 21-21 and which aredisposed in alinement with the walls l3-l3 of the bars 12-12. Theunderside of the bars 26-26 are undercut or recessed inwardly from theconfronting vertical walls 21-21 as at 28 to facilitate the free passageof the yet unfolded bottom flaps E as the package passes from station D"to E. The bars 26-26 are secured in adjusted spaced relation by bolts 29which pass through slots in the base and through openings in the saidbars, the upper threaded ends thereof having clamping wing nuts 33thereon. The adjustable fastening means for the bars 23-23 is similar tothat for the bars l2-l2 as are like adjustable fastening means for thefolders at the stations E and F hereinafter to be described. Theentrance ends of the top walls of the undercuts or recesses 28 arecurved upwardly as at 3| to guide the flaps E into the undercutpassages. Those inner corners of the bars 26-26 confronting the barsl2-l2 are rounded as at 32-32 and as the unfolded flaps D-D are pushedagainst the rounded folder surfaces 32-32 by a push exerted upon thepusher bar 23, the package passes the rounded folder surfaces 32-32,causing the front end flaps D to be folded inwardly against the block ofcheese A in the same manner as the already infolded flaps C. The packagenow assumes the position shown in Figure 6, the folding of the flaps Dforming triangular webs H. As the package passes between the bars 28-26,the inner flat walls 21-21 thereof serve to hold the infolded flaps Cand D in their respective infolded positions. As the package passes fromthe folder station D to the folder station E, the same passes beneath aflattener or ironer member 33 which is constructed of metal and includesspaced legs 34-34 which are fixedly secured to the base H by screws 35.Integral with the legs 34 and spanning the space therebetween, is aforwardly and downwardly curved resilient member 33, the lower free edgeof which rests upon the spaced parallel bars 31-31 which constitutestation E. The space between the lower edge of the member 33 and thebase II is less than the thickness of the package passing therebeneath,thus the package must be forced past the member 36 which being ofresilient material, flexes upwardly and the tension produced by theupward flexing causes the top and bottom sides of the wrapper to besmoothed out and which pressure applied to the package causes theopposed top and bottom sides of the wrapper to adhere to the block ofcream cheese A. Also, the member 36 prevents the partially foldedwrapped article from riding upwardly as it passes the up-folder stationE.

The folder bars 31-31 are adjustable toward and away from each other inthe same manner as the bars l2 and 26 hereinbefore described, and theyare clamped in adjusted position by bolts 38 to which thumb nuts 39 arethreaded. The ends of the bars 31-31 which are in confronting relationwith respect to the bars 26-26 have their inner side walls beveledupwardly to provide upfolder surfaces 43, the said surfaces being curvedas at 4|. As the bottom end flaps E of the package are forced againstthe upwardly beveled surfaces 43, the flaps E will fold upwardly to theposition shown in Figure '1, and these upwardly folded flaps E are heldin folded position by the fiat vertical walls 42 provided on the innersides of the bars 31-31.

Extending forwardly from the bars 31-31 are spaced fiat parallel guiderails 43-43 which rails support the folder bars 44-44 of the finalfolder station F. The guide rails 43-43 and bars 44-44 are adjustabletoward and away from each other as units in the same manner as thepreviously mentioned folder bars, that is, by bolts 45 which receivewing clamping nuts 43 on their threaded ends. The ends of the folderbars 44-44 which are disposed in confronting relation with respect tothe folder bars 31-31, have undercut folder surfaces 41 against whichthe top end flaps F engage as the package is pushed forwardthereagainst. The undercut surfaces 41-41 push the top end flaps Fdownwardly into overlapping engagement with the upfolded flaps E, thuscompleting the end folding of the package as shown in Figure 8. Theflaps are held in their infolded position as they pass between the bars44-44 by means of the flat inner vertical side walls 48, and also by theinner sides of the guide rails 4343. After passing between the bars4444, the packages leave the base II, and if desired, there may beprovided a chute, conveyor, or other means for receiving the wrappedpackages as they pass from the wrapping machine l0.

The length of the pusher bar 23 is not sufficient to push a singlepackage entirely past all of the folder stations, but it will beunderstood that after a package to be wrapped has been folded by thestations C and D, and the said package is pushed forward by the pusherbar 23, that subsequent packages to be wrapped will, when inserted intoposition, provide a row or train of abutting packages as illustrated indotted lines in Figure 2, thus one package will push the next forwardpackage. It is only necessary for the operator to actuate thepusher'member 23 a relatively short stroke to move a package from thestation C' to the station D.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the machine may berapidly operated by a single operator and by a relatively short strokenot tiring to the operator. The various folder devices may be adjustedtoward and away from each other to accommodate packages of differentsizes, and also, the parts are readily removable for replacement andcleaning purposes. For

sanitary reasons, the entire machine may be constructed of wood with theexception of the ironer member 33, and the bolts and nuts which securethe folder members in adjusted position upon the base ll.

While I have shown and described what I consider to be the mostpractical embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood thatsuch changes in construction as come within the scope of the appendedclaims may be resorted to without in any way departing from the spiritof the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A manually operated machine for folding inwardly the ends of awrapper about the corresponding ends of a rectangular article to bewrapped comprising a fiat base, a pair of opposed spaced parallel folderbars fixedly mounted on said base, the inner ends of the bars beingundercut and their inner corners rounded, a pusher member slidablymounted on said base and disposed between said bars and guided therebyduring its sliding movement, the inner end of the pusher member beingdisposed short of the rounded inner corners of the bars when the pushermember is in fully retracted position, whereby a partially wrappedpackage may be placed upon said base and manually slid inwardly betweenthe bars to cause the rounded corners thereof to impart an initialinfold to each end of the wrapper, and a plurality of succcessive spacedapart folder stations mounted on said base forwardly of and inlongitudinal alinement with the folder bars whereby manual sliding ofthe pusher member forwardly will cause the initially infolded ends ofthe wrapper to be successively presented to the respective folderstations to complete the infolding of the ends of the package.

2. A manually operated machine as set forth in claim 1, including aresilient presser element mounted on said base and disposed between twoadjacent folder stations and beneath which the package being wrappedmust be forcibly pushed to cause the smoothing out of the upper side ofthe wrapper after partial folding of the ends and prior to the passageof the package past the final folder station.

3. A manually operated machine for inwardly folding the ends of thwrapper of a partially wrapped rectangular shaped package comprising aflat elongated base having a package feeding station intermediate itsends, front and rear side end folder devices mounted on said base inspaced confronting relation and respectively disposed at the front andrear of th feeding station and arranged in longitudinal alinement, eachfront and rear side end folder device including a pair of spacedtransversely opposed bars, the width of the space between the bars beingequal to that of the package to be wrapped, a manually actuated packagepusher element slidably mounted on said base between the bars of therear side end folder device, stop means for limiting the rearwardretracted movement of the pusher element so that the front end of thesame is inwardly of the plane of the front ends of the bars when fullyretracted, the inner sides of the front ends of the bars being roundedand undercut, an up-folder device mounted forwardly of the front sideend folder device, a downfolder device mounted forward of the up-folderdevice, said up-folder and down-folder devices being in longitudinalalinement with the front and rear side end folder devices whereby arectangular shaped article having a wrapper prefolded about the sidesthereof and with the ends of the wrapper projecting beyond the ends ofthe article, may be placed upon the base at the feeding station andmanually slid rearwardly between the bars of the rear side end folderdevice to receive initial side end folds and by subsequent manualforward sliding of the pusher element, the partially wrapped package maybe forcibly pushed past the front side end folder device, the up-folderdevice, and the down-folder device successively in the order named tocomplete the folding of the ends of the wrapper about the article to bewrapped.

4. A manually operated packag wrapping machine as set forth in claim 3,including a downwardly and forwardly curved resilient presser memberfixedly supported above the top of the up-folder device in the path ofthe upper side of the package being wrapped to smooth the upper side ofthe partially wrapped package and prevent accidental riding up of thepackage as it passes the up-folder device.

JACOB SILBERMAN.

